Building structure



2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct) 2l, 1949 Nm Om AWN GAN

CHARLES DV RUARK mventor Gttorne Jan- 19, 1954 c. D. RUARK BUILDING STRUCTURE 2 sheets-sheet` 2'" Filed Oct. 21, 1949 nventor CHARLES D. RUARK ttorneg work, thsfee 1' gether to form a mein nit'ary structure.

' invention.

Patented Jan. 19, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT lOFFICE 2,666,507 BULnING STRUCTURE Charles D; Ruark, Chase, Kansf, fassgnor of fifty per cent to Ira D. Rua-rk, Chase, Kans. Application october v21, 1949, serial No. 122,635

(ci. 18s-2) v3 Glaiins. l l' A -This invention relates to buildingconstructi'on and more 'particularly to anarche'd type buildfing ramework made in pre'fabricated structural r-stefel'sections and parts adapted 'to be easily 'and quickly' assembled at the building site.

v It is fan ih'lportaht object of the invention to provide a framework of this 'class `which has ivunu'sual -`strength Vfand. resistance to `load and wind prssiies, yet which 'is' milch lighter in Weight than "structitres "of Similar Strength.

Another object is to provide a building frame- Work ol this clafss leaves the entire interii' 'of the building `4free of upright columns, even buildings as arge 'as 60 feet by 150 feet.

Another object i's 'to provide a sectional trainebf jwhich can ybe Vbolted t0- Anoener 'object Sisto 'provide framework of this class, manlyef the parte and sections Aof 'which can -be'rev'ersee `for fuse "either 'side or either end 'of the strctre. Y 1

Another bieet is. to prei/ice a framework. ytrie various partsA 'of which ina'y be initially` loosely secured together, the treed, and the parts then rigidly secured together.

stili another object lis to provide a means for trying 'une assembled parts after tneyiiate been miriam-loosely assembled. ann rer holding mem rn their proper relative pe wniiejtney are being 'nnaily and rigidly 'se'cu'r together.

An additionfaiobject is 'to provai-e ksectional framework which be assemblee finte "gid unitary framework with a'iiiinnnim er sknea f labor.

rh@ invention., together with ether objects et- 'teiding -lts prdctoh, 'Will be iloi'e'cl-'ailyilnfderstood when the followingdescripti'on is read iii "OI'llectioi-i with the accompanying drawings,

which: y

1 is fa perspective -View 'ora portion a bilfdin'g framework. embodying the invention, certain parts having been omitted for draw-ing clarity, the `omitted rparts being identical to c'ertain oi those shown; l I w y Figs. 2, and 4 are perspective 'views bf eertain` part-'s of the framework, and show 'details of construction; and y u Fig. 5 visa schematic sideview of -anassembled fframework constructed -in accordance with the Y General. description es will be seen in 1. a cuiiiic fY mewrk embodying the param -iuentieei truss-like arches-di ed legt'- creny respect terne tendine, anespaced l the arch, respectively.

- 2 longitudinally with respect thereto. Longitudinal strength is provided by parallel horizontal stringers 9, 'which also serve` to maintain the spacing 'of the arches; Additional strength is provided by X=bracing connecting the vcenters of each `adjacent pair Vof arches and lying in a substantially vertical plane, and by additional X-bra'cing lying in a near horizontal plane. Diagonal tu'rnbuclle bracing Vservesto initially true the various arches during assembly and to subsequently maintain them in their proper relative positions. Each end of the framework includes a horizontal tie beam II, and `a vdesired number o'f upright columnsv I4, I5, and I6, rigidly connected together to `form a unitary `end arch Awith a doorway 'opening of desired size.

Prefabricated parts description Each arch is made -up of a right and a `left hand section adapted to. be joined together at their upper ends. Each arch section is made up of two structural steel members I2 and I3., deflning the outer -and inner chord members of These chord members are preferably circular in cross section, and bent into substantially semi-circular for-m. The yradiusrofl a curvature of the inner member is pref erably but not necessarily -less than that or vthe outer member I2, and their lower ends are thus shown positioned closer together than their upper ends. These members are rigidly connected together and heldin spaced relation by' means of spacer plates I'I to 23 inclusive, the -opposite ends of which aretvelded rigidly to the 4arch members.` In addition, the lower ends of the members I-2 and i3 are rigidly welded to onesurface of an anchor plate 24 which lies in a plane normal to dthat pla-ne in which the assembled members I2 and I3 lie. 'The opposite ends of the members I2 and I3 are rigidly welded to one surface o'f` an elongated keystone plate l25, near its opposite ends. The anchor plates 24 are .perforatedI to receive the ends of properly I foundation 26, which bolts serve to firmly anspaced bolts 33 set in the concrete building 'chorfthc base of each arch section and each upright column to the foundation. The plates 25 are perforated to receive bolts 3l] for'iigidly cohliec'ting the upper Ae'ndsof right and left hand 'arch 'sections together. y Y

"lie'lon'grtudirial 'str-ingers are also made in sections. as, cleariy shown in rig. 2. nach Stringer section includes rod to which are 'Welded a plurality 'of eoiially spaced rigid 'angle lbrackets 25E, nd l2S.` portion of each bracket lies e' piane 'nent angles te the' roe -Fig. 3.

the same manner as the tie beams.

is perforated, as shown in Fig. 2, and the brackets are positioned on the rod so that thev perforations are in substantial alignment.

The two end arches of each building frame, according to this invention, differ from the other arches only in the type of anchor plate provided for the right and left hand arch sections, and in the inclusion of additional spacer plates 3I-32, welded in desired positions.V The anchor plates 2ML are simply half plates, and project inwardly only from the plane of the end arch.

Each end of the framework includes a horizontal tie beam, designated as a whole vby the numeral II, and several different types of upright columns, their number and positioning depending on the span and height of the assembled arches used. The different types of columns are designated as a whole by the numerals I4, I5,r

The tie beam construction is clearly shown in It includesfour spaced parallel rods held rigidly in assembled position by being welded to the four corners of open ended structural steel plate boxes 34, and likewise to the four corners of similar right and left hand end boxes 35-3- The opposite side plates of the end boxes are extended outwardly beyond the ends of the top 4and `bottom plate members, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, and their outer ends are rigidly welded -together and provided .with bolt holes to form an `attaching flange.

The upright columns I5 are formed in much Four spaced parallel rods are welded't'o the respective corners of spacer boxes 31, 38 and 39, built of steel plates Welded together. The opposite ends of the rods and the outer ends of the plates which form the end boxes, however, are Welded to heavy anchor plates 4 0--4I which lie at right angles to the longitudinal center lines of the columns. Bolt holes in the plates 40-41 permit the respective ends of the columns I5 to be rigidly secured to the foundation 26 and to the bottom plates of the tie beam boxes 34 by means of bolts 33 and 35 respectively.

The columns I4 are made up of two parallel rods held in spaced position by means of spacer plates l2-43-4IL, welded to the rods. Parallel top and bottom plates 45--48 are welded to the opposite ends of the rods and to the outer ends of the end spacer plates I2- 44, in positions normal to the longitudinal axis of the column. Bolt holes in the plates'45-4'5 permit their rigid attachment to the bottom plate of the end boxes 35-36 of the tie beam, and to the building foundation, by means of suitable stud bolts 33 set in the concrete.

rEhe upright columns I5 (Fig. 4) are similar in construction to the columns I5, just described. They include parallel rods, spacer plates ll-48- 49 welded to the rods, a base plate 59 welded to the rods and lower end plates in a plane normal tothe length of the column, and an upper end plate 5I. This latter plate is positioned in a transverse plane normal to the plane of the plate 59 and also normal to the plane in which the two rods and the spacer plates lie. The bottom plate 5B is provided With bolt holes to facilitate its rigid attachment to the top plate of one of the boxes 34, which is provided with matching bolt holes. The end plate 5I is also provided with one ormore bolt holes to facilitate its rigid attachment to oneof the arch spacer plates 2|- 22-23, depen-ding on the span and height of the arches used. Naturally the length of all the devinto position on the foundation 26.

4! scribed members II, I4, I5 and I6 will vary with the size of the building being constructed.

Erection and assembly The Various parts thus far described, together with certain other parts to be subsequently mentioned, may be prefabricated at a central factory and shipped disassembled to the building site.

Right and left hand arch sections are rigidly secured together at their upper ends by heavy bolts 36 passed through matching holes in the plates 25, and the assembled arches are raised The base end of each arch section is securely bolted to the foundation. The arches may be held in upright position by guy wires until several arches have been assembled and raised into position on the foundation. Rigid bracing rods 52-53 having ,flattened drilled ends are next placed in the positions shown in Fig. 1 and bolted to the upright plates 25 of adjacent arches to form X- A`braces Vwhich lie in a substantially vertical plane.

The nuts on the bolts 3E) which connect these rods to the plates 25 are not fully tightened at this time.

Next, similar brace rods 54-55 have their rev spective ends connected to opposed right and left hand spacer plates 22 and 23 of adjacent arches by means of additional bolts 30, to form additional X-bracing lying in a plane substantially at right angles to the previously formed X-braces.

In the meantime Stringer sections S have been bolted to the various horizontally alined spacer plates I8 to 2I inclusive by means of additional bolts 39, in the manner clearly shown in Fig. l.

-Next the tie beams II, and upright columns IlI--IE-IG are placed in position asY shown, and as previously described, and the nuts on all the lbolts 30 only partially tightened.

When the proper number of arches have been assembled and erected, and the stringers and X-bracing are in position, turnbuckle type truing braces are placed in position. A preferred arrangement of these truing braces is shown schematically in-Fig. 5, each brace being designated as a whole by the numeral 56. The details in the construction of such a brace are shown in Fig. 1. It consists of two rods 5'I-58 having threaded ends connected together by a conventional heavy turnbuckle 59. The respective outer ends of the rods are bent toform hooks 60. Identical anchor plates 6I are bolted to a chosen one of the arch base plates 24, and to a desired one of the arch spacer plates 20-2I-22.- The free upturned end of each anchor plate 6I is perforated to receive the hook 60 of one of the rods 51-58. f

When the turnbuckle braces 56 have been placed in position on both sides of the'framework, the turnbuckles are tightened gradually and in varying degrees to pull all the assembled arches into vertical and transverse parallelism. Thereafter, all the nuts on all the bolts 3B which connect the various parts together are tightened, and the building framework is ready for the application of exterior siding and roong of any desired type. By threading the truing braces 5B over the intervening Stringer rods 9, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, the truing braces are confined to the space within the upper and lower chord members of the arches, thus leaving the ceiling face of the arches entirely unobstructed.

. From the above description it is apparent that this invention provides a framework which is free of internal upright bracing, yet which is so conacceso? structed that both the downward roof loading forces and the horizontal wind forces are transmitted and evenly distributed throughout the structure, thus eliminating the concentration of high bending moments or compressive forces in any one or any small group of parts, and producing an unusually strong structure.

Having 'described the invention with sufficient clarity to enable those familiar with the art to construct, assemble, and use it, I claim:

1. A skeleton building framework including transverse truss-like arch members disposed in spaced parallel vertical planes, X-brace rods disposed in a substantially vertical plane and connecting the upper central portions of each adjacent pair of arch members at vertically spaced points; and X-brace rods disposed in a substantially horizontal plane and beneath the rst mentioned X-brace rods also connecting the upper portions of each adjacent pair of arch members at points spaced laterally of the respective centers thereof, said second mentioned X-brace rods crossing one another substantially in the vertical plane in which said first mentioned X-braces lie.

2. A skeleton building framework including transverse truss-like arch members disposed in spaced parallel vertical planes, each arch member including inner and outer chord members which are spaced a greater distance at the top u central portion of the arch than at its lower ends; X-brace rods disposed in a substantially vertical plane connecting the top central portion of each adjacent pair of arch members at vertically spaced points; and X-brace rods disposed in a substantially horizontal plane and beneath the rst mentioned X-brace rods also connecting the upper central portions of each adjacent pair of arch members at points spaced laterally of the respective centers thereof; the second mentioned X-braces crossing one another substantially in the vertical plane in which the rst mentioned X-braces lie, spaced horizontal longitudinally disposed stringer rods rigidly connecting the various arch members and disposed l j between the inner and outer chord members of said arches, and diagonally disposed truing braces each having one end connected to one arch member at an elevated level and its opposite end connected to a remote arch member near the lower end of one of its legs and threaded over the intervening stringer rods so as to be confined thereby to the spaces between the inner and outer chord members of the arches.

3. In a building framework, the combination of a plurality of upright truss-like arch members arranged in spaced parallel planes, each arch member comprising separably connected complemental right and left hand arch sections, and each arch section comprising inner and outer chord members arranged in a common vertical plane, the chord members of each arch section being spaced apart a greater distance at the top portion thereof than at the lower end thereof; a keystone plate rigidly connecting the chord members of each complemental arch section at the upper end thereof; means securing the keystone plate of each right hand arch section to the keystone plate of its corresponding and complemental left hand arch section with the line of juncture therebetween lying substantially in the central longitudinal vertical plane of the building framework; crossed bracing rods lying substantially in said vertical plane rigidly connecting the keystone plates of each adjacent pair of arch sections at vertically spaced points; longitudnally disposed stringer rods passing between the chord members of each arch and connected to adjacentl arch members for bracing `them and maintaining their spacing; and diagonally disposed truing braces each having an end connected to an arch section spacer plateat an elevated level, and its opposite end connected to the base plate of a remote arch member and threaded over the intervening stringer' rods so as to be confined thereby to the space within the chord members of the arches.r

CHARLES D. RUARK.

References Cited in the. le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

